“I’ve tried to get away from my old man, but it just seems to be getting worse now!” joked the winger. “This time it’s Steve and he knows me inside out.

“I just want to try to get into the team. I want to get a strong pre-season under my belt and come the first day of the season, I want to be in contention.

“But you have to work hard each session to be involved on the Saturday and I’m no different just because I’ve known the manager all my life.”

Ince, 22, turned down Inter Milan and Stoke to join Hull on a Bosman from Blackpool and feels he can shine under Bruce in the Premier League.

“I’m 22 and now is the time for me to show people what I can do,” said the former Liverpool starlet.

“The gaffer’s brought me here because he believes in what I can do and for me to be involved in such a strong squad is fantastic.”

Ince could make his debut in Hull’s Europa League qualifier on Thursday, a match for which Bruce fears his side are not ready.

“No matter how you try and fluff up a friendly they’re just not the same,” he said. “We will have to snap out of it next week. We have to be in competition mode because that will be a different kettle of fish.”

* HULL are ready to clinch the £2m capture of Sheffield United centre-half Harry Maguire - Steve Bruce has made a breakthrough in talks with his former employers after a long chase, writes Alan Nixon .